Honoring Leadership, Achievement and Contributions to the Community
At Manchester University, we take great pride in celebrating the achievements and impact of our alumni. Through a growing collection of awards and honors, we recognize individuals whose lives reflect the University’s mission—leading principled, productive, and compassionate lives that make a difference in the world.
From career accomplishments and service to leadership and mentorship, these recognitions highlight the diverse ways Manchester graduates shape their communities and professions. This page serves as a tribute to those alumni whose contributions inspire current students, fellow graduates, and all who call Manchester home.
Alumni Honor Award
In 1960, the Alumni Association began presenting the Alumni Honor Award, the highest recognition the Alumni Association can bestow on a graduate of Manchester University or Mount Morris College. The award is made to living alumni upon the recommendation of the Alumni Association and upon the approval of the president of the University. It may be presented for any of the following reasons:
- For participation in and contribution to the alumni program of the University;
- For outstanding personal services rendered the University over a period of years;
- For personal accomplishments whereby the prestige of the University is enhanced;
- For distinguished service or accomplishments in any field of human endeavor, be it in the family, community, in business, industry, science, or a profession; or
- For unusual and singular contributions to the development of cultural or spiritual life.
2024 Alumni Honor Award winner, Dr. Angi Yoder-Maina ’94
Alumni Honor Award Recipients
Alford, Steve – Distinguished Honor Award 2014
Bailey, Ralph ’51
Ball, Arden ’63
Barnhart, Marjorie ’37
Barr, Ernest ’50
Barrett Rendler, Ruth Barrett ’82
Beery, Robert ’36
Bendsen, Olga ’38
Biggs, Robert ’67
Bittinger, Marvin L. ’63
Blickenstaff, Leonard ’34
Blickenstaff, Zara ’38
Boda, Marguerite Zumbrun ’25
Bowman, Paul ’46
Boyer, Charles L. `59
Brand, Jerry ’63
Bridges, Jane ’83
Brookover, Wilbur ’33
Brumbaugh, Grayce ’32
Bullock, Freddie ’73
Bunce, George ’42
Burke, Eldon ’22
Burke, Homer ’21
Burt, Carl ’27
Butler, Arthur ’44
Butterbaugh, Edgar ’49
Bwala, Hyedima ’71
Byerly, Carl ’28
Chaffee, Chuck ’64
Chanthalangsy, Pawn ’76
Chapman, Linda Brown ’71
Christopher, William ’60
Clarke, Nelda Rhodes ’73
Coffman, H. McKinley ’59
Compton, Russell ’31
Conrad, Duard ’25
Cordier, Dorothy Butterbaugh ’23
Cory, Dennis ’66
Cox, Kathy Throne ’73
Cripe, Floyd ’21
Curless, Robert ’38
Curry, Robert S. ’76
Deeter, Allen C. ’53
Deeter, Joan George ’53
Dilling, Carole Welch ’62
Dilling, Yvonne ’79
Dillman, Glen ’69
Ding-Jo, Hsia Currie ’75
Douglas, Chris Good ’74
Downey, James M. ’67
Dresher, Edith ’23
Durnbaugh, Donald ’49
Dye, Cloyd ’55
Eash, Maurice ’50
Eastlund, Marvin ’66
Easton , James ’64
Eberly, John ’29
Eberly, William R. ’48
Edgerton, Sarah ’70
Edwards, C. Lowell ’50
Eikenberry, Ivan ’35
Eikenberry, Mary Flora ’36
Eikenberry, Terril ’73
Emrick, Ernestine Hoff ’40
Emrick, Michael ’68
Evans, T. Quentin ’45
Finnell, Loren ’64
Firebaugh, Douglas ’62
Fisher, Glen ’45
Fisher, Gletha Noffsinger ’30
Flory, Charles ’24
Flory, Kristin ’78
Flory, Paul ’31
Frederick, Donald ’39
Fry, Ivan ’46
Fry-Miller, Kathleen Fry ’75
Gall, Irma ’55
Garber, James ’50
Garner, Jasper ’48
Garner, Warren ’50
Garver, Earl ’33
Garwood, Carolyn Simmers ’49
Gibbel, J. Paul ’20
Gilbert, Arthur L. ’53
Gilbert, Martha Rupel ’29
Gilliland, Karen King ’70
Gressley, Gene ’52
Grove, Dean A. ’67
Gump, Arlo ’31
Gunnerson, Samuel ’64
Haist, David A. ’73
Haist, Sandy Cleveland ’74, ’02
Haley, J. Wilbur ’24
Hamer, Esther Rinehart ’50
Hamer, John ’48
Hamilton, Marie Ikenberry ’23
Hamilton, Stanley ’32
Hammond, Mary Coppock ’41
Hardman, Carolyn Moldenhauer ’61
Hare, William ’60
Harper, Clara ’24
Harper, William N. ’66
Harshbarger, Albert ’28
Heisey, Lowell ’41
Helman, A. Blair
Helman, Cora Wise ’22
Henney, Jane ’69
Hersch, Ruth Brandt ’40
Hilles, Howard ’35
Hines, Glynn ’73
Hoff, Lloyd ’21
Hoffman, Nancy Walker ’76
Holl, Carl ’16
Holl, John ’60
Holland, Ruth Mangun ’50
Hollenberg, Edward L. ’48
Holmes, Melvin L. ’63
Hooley, Stan ’80
Hoover, Paul ’68
Houser, D. Stanley ’29
Howard, Keith ’30
Howell, Ida Shockley ’25
Huber, Robert ’30
Huffaker, P. L. ’23
Huffman, Eric A. ’71
Ikenberry, G. John ’76
Jarvis, J. Michael ’68
Johansen, Robert ’62
Johansen, Ruthann Knechel ’64
Johnson , Onita Jerew ’49
Johnson, Stephen ’77
Johnston, Howard ’49
Johnston, Janis Clark ’69
Joseph, Philip ’64
Kastner, Michael ’77
Keffer, Harry L. ’59
Keller, Dorothy Birdge – Distinguished Honor Award 2015
Keller, Paul ’35
Keller, Robert ’52
Kelly, Michael L. ’70
Kettering, Merlyn ’65
Kinsley, C. Evan ’34
Kinsley, Lucile Buck ’34
Kintner, Elgin ’39
Kiracofe, Homer ’40
Krieg, Philip ’70
Kurtz, Sarah ’79
Landis, Moyne ’27
Lehman, Della ’21
LeValley Bergen, Cara M. ’87
LeValley, Joan ’57
Likens, Gene ’57
Likens, Steve ’71
Long, Inez Goughnour ’39
Long, Dr. Kathy Driver ’71
Longfellow, John ’28
Lundin, Frank ’49
Mahoney, Mildred ’45
Martin, Don ’28
Mason, Dorotha Winger ’48
May, Melanie ’76
McElwee, Tim ’78
McEntarfer, Beverly ’73
McFadden, Ralph ’55
McFadden, W. Glenn ’28
McFadden, Wilbur ’53
Metzger, Ken ’67
Michael, Peter M. ’74
Mikesell, D. Blaine ’37
Miller, Clemmy ’20
Miller, Edward ’56
Miller, Martha Showalter ’56
Miller, Noble ’25
Miller, Rex ’69
Miller, Wayne ’48
Minnich, H.Spenser ’17
Mishler, Rick ’74
Mock, Stephen ’63
Montel, Gary ’65
Morris, Michael J. ’71
Mow, Anna Beahm ’18
Moyer, Elgin ’14
Moyer, Faye ’22
Mullen, Wilbur ’52
Nees, Opal Pence ’50
Neher, Clarence ’37
Neher, O. W. ’16
Noffsinger, Stanley J. ’76
Nyhart, Howard ’23
Ogden, Tim ’87
Oswalt, Sylvia Eidemiller ’50
Ott, Beverly ’80
Oxender, Dale ’54
Parker, Donald ’56
Parker, Robert ’57
Pettit, Terry ’68
Pfleiderer, Esther ’30
Plank, Jeffrey ’69
Pontius, Keith ’55
Pence, Nadine S. ’76
Lily Qi ’91
Reid, Kathryn Goering ’73
Rhoades, J. Benton ’42
Rhoades, Ruby Frantz ’45
Rieman, Louise Baldwin ’69
Rieman, Philip ’69
Riethof, Thomas ’49
Robinson, Bill – Distinguished Honor Award 2013
Rolston, Wendell ’29
Roop, Eugene ’64
Roop, G. Fred ’39
Roop, Lois Berkebile ’38
Ross, Keith ’34
Royer, Homer ’29
Royer, Howard ’52
Rupel, Esther ’47
Rupel, Lucile Sherck ’30
Sargent, Galen ’23
Schantz, Elizabeth ’52
Schechter, Joseph ’47
Schrock, Janet Lea West ’58
Schutz, Salena ’25
Schwalm, Vernon ’13
Shafer, Elaine Snyder ’89
Shaffer, James ’35
Shankster, Celia Smith ’49
Shankster, Owen ’59
Sheller, H. Lynn ’26
Sherman, Anita Weaver ’79
Shull, Ernest ’37
Shull, Gordon ’46
Shull, Lois Netzley ’52
Shull, W. Russell ’23
Shultz, L. W. ’14
Snyder, Graydon ’51
Sowles, Marcia ’72
Spencer, Sidney ’49
Stauffer, Robert ’23
Steele, Lonnie ’62
Stoner, Ben ’28
Stoner, John ’26
Switzer, Jo Young ’69
Taubert, Alexis Lybrook ’71
Theen, Rolf ’59
Thomas, Frances Smith ’39
Thomas, Franklin ’25
Thompson, Joel ’55
Throne, Clair ’31
Throne, Paul ’49
Tice, Carol Hoff ’54
Tolle, Jeannette Jackson ’37
Trexler, Edward ’50
Tully, Robert ’31
Turner, H. Spencer ’60
Uhrig, Howard ’47
Ulmer, Edna ’58
Van Dyke, Vernon ’33
Viehweg, Steve ’82
Waas, David ’47
Wagoner, John ’39
Walter, Franklin ’51
Walton, Ronald ’53
Wampler, Sadie Stutsman ’16
Warstler, Anna ’30
Weimer, Harry ’29
Weimer, Paul ’42
Weldy, Gilbert ’49
West, Phil ’60
Wieand, Cassel ’35
Williams, Flora Rouch ’59
Wilson, Laura McIntire ’32
Winger, Robert ’26
Wolfe, Claude ’40
Wright, Lowell ’35
Wright, Dr. Phillip C. ’78
Wu, Ningkun ’48
Yoder-Maina, Angi ’94
Yost, Daryl ’58
Yost, M. Dwayne ’57
Young, John ’42
Zigler, Robert ’42
Zumbrun, Linda ’69
The Young Alumni Impact Award
The Young Alumni Impact Award identifies potential future leaders, age 30 and under, who have embraced the principles that they learned while at Manchester to make a significant impact on the world. This award recognizes Manchester University alumni, age 30 and under, who:
- continue to live out the University mission in their professional and personal life,
- make a significant impact on the world, and
- are considered a potential future leader.
The recipient will be recognized at Homecoming each fall. Complete the form below to nominate a fellow alumnus for the Young Alumni Impact Award.
2024 Young Alumni Impact Award recipient, Audri Svay ’18
Young Alumni Impact Award Recipients
Past recipients are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Dustin S. Brown ’99
Rachel Wilkinson ’10 DeLauder
Alex Downard ’20
Benjamin Tapper ’12
The Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award
The Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes alumni, ages 31-40, who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their professions, have contributed to the betterment of their community and its citizens, and who have retained a strong commitment to the University. This award recognizes Manchester University alumni, age 31-40, who:
- demonstrate outstanding leadership in their careers,
- contribute to the betterment of their community and its citizens, and
- retain a strong alliance with the University.
The recipient is to be recognized at the Homecoming each fall. Complete the form below to nominate a fellow alumnus for the Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award.
2024 Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, Dr. Nicholas Robinson ’16
The Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award Recipients
Frederick Balagaddé ’01
James Butler ’02
Samantha Chapman ’12
Nick Kenny ’11
Madalyn Metzger ’99
Lisa Updike ’03 Starks
Carol Fike ’10
The Claude Wolfe Coach of the Year Award
Each year at the Homecoming football game, this award is presented to an M Association member who, by his or her achievements and contributions in athletic coaching, brings honor to our university and the memory of Coach Wolfe. The award can be based either on outstanding success in the past year or on accomplishments over the course of a several-year career.
Richard “Dick” Siler ’57 – A former football and track athlete for the Black and Gold, Dick Siler has etched his coaching legacy on the baseball field. Dick spent over three decades as a high school educator and baseball coach in Northern Indiana. Siler taught and coached at both Elkhart High and Elkhart Memorial High Schools. He compiled an outstanding overall record of 576-355-15, good enough for a sterling .618 winning percentage.
Honoring his career in high school athletics, Siler was a 1992 inductee into the Indiana High School Baseball Hall of Fame. A longtime member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association, Dick retired from the high school ranks in 1997.
Ever passionate in his love for the game of baseball, Dick couldn’t quite stay away from coaching and is now entering his 23rd year as an assistant baseball coach at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind.
Selection is made by Association officers from nominations by the membership, which includes all past “M” letter winners. Nominations must be received before Dec. 31.
Claude Wolfe Coach of the Year Recipients
1980 – Phil Weybright ’68
1981 – Bob Barlow ’72
1982 – Claude Wolfe ’40
1983 – Richard Miller ’61
1984 – Lamar Kilmer ’63
1985 – James Andrews ’69
1986 – John Hans ’63
1987 – Terry Pettit ’68
1988 – Mike Kelly ’70
1989 – Harlan Frick ’63
1990 – Dennis Horn ’63
1991 – Al Smith ’64
1992 – A.J. Rickard ’62
1993 – Jim Noffsinger ’69
1994 – Dave Geyer ’62
1995 – Carmi Thornton ’76
1996 – Jerry Minton ’62
1997 – Steve Neff ’73
1998 – Ron Hecklinski ’78
1998 – Mike DeBord ’77
1999 – Doug Miller ’76
2000 – Gary Scott ’71
2001 – Mark Heeter ’87
2002 – Gary Goshert ’73
2003 – Dave McCollough ’79
2004 – Bill Patrick ’53
2005 – Wayne Kreiger ’64
2006 – Mark Miller ’75
2007 – Jeff Adamson ’86
2008 – Scott Mannering ’79
2009 – Allen Shockney ’63
2010 – Carla Paschen ’83 Herschberger
2011 – Linda Allen ’84 Bamrick
2012 – Allen Mack ’87
2013 – Scott Kreiger ’88
2014 – George Gilbert ’78
2015- Andy McClain ’91
2016- Jed Freels ’84
2017 – Burt paddock ’97
2018 – Scott Stalbaum ’07
2019 – Dick Siler ’57
Alumni Teacher of the Year
The Warren K. and Helen J. Garner Alumni Teacher of the Year award honors a Manchester University teacher education alumnus/alumnae who is currently active in classroom teaching in preschool through grade 12, who:
- has made significant contributions to education
- provides exceptional service to the profession
- is deeply concerned for the individual students
- is able to inspire learning
2024 Alumni Teacher of the Year, Amy Hively
Amy Hively has been teaching at Northridge Middle School for more than twenty years. A majority of that time has been spent with 8th grade science students. Mrs. Hively is also a Northridge Middle School track coach and a National Junior Honor Society sponsor. Her favorite lessons in 8th grade science are ones in which students are engaged in labs or hands-on activities. Mrs. Hively grew up in Goshen, Indiana and graduated from Northridge High School in 1997. She graduated from Manchester College in 2001 with a B.A. in Chemistry and a degree in Secondary Education. While at Manchester, Amy was a member of the track team, the Student Education Association, and the American Chemical Society. She lives in Middlebury with her husband, Les, and three children.
Alumni Teacher of the Year Recipients
2024 Amy Hively ‘ 01 Chemistry Education
2023 Joel Eichenauer ’91 Elementary
2022 Michelle Keim ‘05 Elementary
2019 Stacey Morgan ’09 English/Language Arts
2017 Marie Snyder ’67 Harris Elementary
2015 Jody Sarber ’07 Secondary Math
2014 Ryan S. Evans ’07 Science
2013 Paige Keim ’95 Elementary
2012 Kacina Peters ’06 Pfeiffer Elementary
2011 Connie Hicks ’74 Pipher Elementary
2010 Portia Price ’86 Coe Elementary
2005 Phil Sheets ’71 ’75 Biology
2005 Pam Nussbaum Sheets’72 ’75 Third Grade
2003 David McKenzie ’83 English and Speech
2001 Beth Jones ’85 Elementary
2000 Michael Hummer ’72 Elementary
1999 Daniel Tyree ’76 English and Speech
1997 Kermit Eby III ’80 Social Studies
1995 Dean Beery ’65 Fourth Grade
1994 Robert Harkness ’68 Third Grade
1993 Kay Browning ’68 Sponseller English
1992 Larry Baker ’62 Language Arts and Drama
1991 Nelda Brandeberry ’55 Snider Home Economics
1990 Joann Fisher ’54 Owen Third Grade
1989 Glen Dillman ’69 Social Studies
1988 Ruth Brown ’40 Brubaker Kindergarten
*The award was not presented in 2018 and 2020.